The Shoe Series (1981)

About this artwork

Shoes played a prominent role in Warhol’s early career as a commercial artist. His 1950s adverts for women’s footwear were well recognised and his fetish for shoes and feet continued throughout his life. In the 1980s he returned to the motif as a source of inspiration for a series of screenprints which incorporated diamond dust, the by-product created during the making of industrial grade diamonds. The effect of a shimmering surface is reminiscent of his use of gold leaf in the late 1950s, creating a magical touch of glamour. This exhibition poster shows a single emerald green shoe floating in a starry sky but many of the works in his shoe series incorporated lots of different shoes in groupings - reminiscent of still lifes.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was born 'Andrew Warhola' to Slovakian immigrant parents living in Pittsburgh in America. Warhol's subject matter was taken from popular culture, in the form of advertising, comics, magazines and packaging. He was able to produce his works quickly by transferring images onto canvas or paper through photography and screenprinting, sometimes with the help of assistants. Warhol stated that he wanted to make works that showed no trace of having been produced by hand. His interest in mass production reflected the fast-developing consumer culture he recognised in America. His New York studio, 'The Factory,' became a popular meeting place for artists, drop-outs, celebrities and bands.